Shohei Ohtani threw 22 pitches in live batting practice at Citi Field.
Hours later, he crushed a 411-foot leadoff homer — his 18th of the year.
The New York Mets defeated the Dodgers 3-1, capitalizing on four L.A. errors.
Pete Alonso snapped his career-worst home run drought with a two-run shot.
Kodai Senga, Stanek, Kranick, and Garrett shut down Dodgers’ bats.
Ohtani’s return to pitching form draws excitement but no exact timeline
Shohei Ohtani Pitching Return 2025: Baseball’s Biggest Superstar Back on the Mound and At the Plate — All in the Same Day
NEW YORK, May 25, 2025 — It’s official: Shohei Ohtani is back on the bump — and he made sure the entire baseball world noticed. In what can only be described as a cinematic double act, Ohtani threw his first live batting practice since elbow surgery, then followed it up by launching a towering leadoff home run into the second deck of Citi Field.
Yes, you read that right. He pitched and hit — and did both like a superstar. But despite the Ohtani show, it was the New York Mets who had the last laugh, taking advantage of a shaky Dodgers defense to secure a gritty 3-1 victory.
Ohtani’s long-awaited return to pitching form is grabbing headlines, but the Mets’ clutch hitting and ironclad bullpen stole the spotlight where it matters — the scoreboard.
Shohei Ohtani Lights Up Citi Field — On the Mound and at the Plate
After months of speculation, rehab, and anticipation, Ohtani made his long-awaited 2025 pitching return — or at least the first live steps of it. Throwing 22 pitches in front of reporters, teammates, and even rival Mets staff, he mixed in a fastball touching 97 mph, slippery sweepers, and that trademark splitter.
Facing five batters, including teammates like Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing, Ohtani showed no rust — only confidence.
He smiled between pitches, snagged comebackers like a Gold Glover, and even struck out two hitters. The awkward swings and missed timing? That wasn’t an accident. That was Ohtani’s magic.
“He was free and easy. The stuff looked nasty,” said Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. “He’s not just back. He’s dangerous.”
Then, as if he hadn’t done enough, four hours later, he demolished Kodai Senga’s second pitch of the night for his 18th home run of the season — a 411-foot missile that left Mets fans gasping.
Ohtani is back — and the league better pay attention.
But Wait — This Was the Mets’ Night
Yes, Ohtani stole the cameras. But it was the New York Mets who walked away with the win — and they earned every bit of it.
Pete Alonso — in the middle of a brutal 16-game homerless stretch — picked the perfect time to snap out of it. After a costly error by Max Muncy, Alonso stepped up and crushed a two-run homer in the first inning off Landon Knack.
That was all the Mets needed.
The rest was pure defensive brilliance and bullpen excellence. Kodai Senga held the Dodgers to one run over 5 1/3 gritty innings. Then Ryne Stanek, Max Kranick, and Reed Garrett slammed the door shut with surgical precision.
Dodgers Defense Implodes
The Dodgers didn’t just lose — they self-destructed. With four errors, they handed the Mets every ounce of momentum.
Two of those miscues directly led to all three New York runs. It wasn’t the mighty Dodgers juggernaut the league fears — it was a team out of sync, maybe rattled by the return of their star pitcher and the energy swirling around Citi Field.
The worst moment? A brutal botched throw after a Juan Soto grounder that allowed Alonso’s blast to count for two runs instead of none.
Ohtani gave them a lead. The defense gave it away.
Tyrone Taylor’s Game-Saving Play
Early in the game, it looked like the Dodgers might blow things open. Already up 1-0 after Ohtani’s shot, they had runners on second and third with nobody out in the first.
Enter Tyrone Taylor, who made what might be the defensive play of the year — a sprinting catch in right-center and a bullet throw to nail Mookie Betts at the plate for a momentum-shattering double play.
That moment shifted everything. The Dodgers never recovered.
The Stats Behind the Story
- Ohtani’s leadoff homer was the 16th of his career, and his fourth this season.
- Alonso’s longball was his 10th of 2025 and the 236th of his career.
- Kodai Senga’s home run streak ended after 202 batters and eight games.
- The Mets are now 19-6 at home — the best home record in baseball.
- Juan Soto’s seventh stolen base ties his 2024 total.
The Bigger Picture: Ohtani’s Long Road Back
Sunday was more than a box score. It was the beginning of the next phase of Ohtani’s two-way dominance.
He hasn’t pitched in a major league game since August 23, 2023, and had surgery on September 19 that threatened to end his pitching career entirely.
But now? He’s back in motion. No set date yet, but the Dodgers expect more bullpen sessions, more live BPs — and maybe a real game return by mid-July.
If that happens, the Dodgers could add a Cy Young-caliber arm to their already-stacked roster — and they’ll do it without sacrificing one of the league’s best bats.
That’s not fair. But that’s Ohtani.
The Dodgers Rotation Still in Flux
While Ohtani ramps up, the rest of the Dodgers’ rotation is still dealing with chaos. Clayton Kershaw is back, but Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow remain sidelined with shoulder issues.
The rotation needs stability — and fast. Ohtani could be that anchor in the second half.
But for now? The Mets just showed they can beat the best of them, even on Ohtani Day.
The Mets Are Heating Up
This wasn’t just a revenge win for the Mets — it was a statement. After losing to the Dodgers in last year’s NLCS, they’ve now taken two of three from the defending champs.
Alonso’s back. Soto is flying around the bases. The bullpen is locked in. And Senga looks more like an ace with every start.
This team is dangerous, especially at home — and they’re not done yet.
What’s Next?
The Dodgers head to Cleveland next, where Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the hill looking to bounce back.
Meanwhile, the Mets stay home and face the Chicago White Sox, where former Met Adrian Houser returns to Citi Field on the mound.
But the real story? All eyes are now on Shohei Ohtani. Every pitch. Every swing.
Because baseball’s unicorn is trotting back to the mound — and the fireworks are just beginning.
